Situated north-west of Cancun, Isla Holbox is an island at the top of the Yucatan Peninsula, between the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, with beautiful beaches and laid-back atmosphere.
Only 42kms in length, the only thing that separates the island from mainland Mexico is a shallow lagoon, and with no vehicle access, the sleepy town of Holbox is a perfect escape and great destination to sight-fish to large, migratory Tarpon in clear water.
Often exceeding 100 pounds in weight, it provides a great challenge for experienced fly-fishermen in the Summer months with a good range of accommodation options and lodging available.
From May to September each year the region also experiences the annual Whale Shark aggregation, the largest in the world which enables you to snorkel with these magnificent animals, only a short boat ride off the coast.
There is a fine selection of beautiful villas, boutique hotel and resort accommodation in Holbox if you wish to mix some guided fly fishing days into your holiday, and we can arrange a number of reputable guides on a per-day basis. These trips are ideal if travelling as a couple or with your family.
For dedicated fly fishing trips, the Holbox Fly Fishing Lodge is well-appointed to suit your time chasing migratory Tarpon, which is modern, comfortable and well located right just out of the main town. Luciano provides great hospitality in a relaxed and no-frills manner with a great guide team.
The Gulf of Mexico provides superb seafood which figures on the menu at the several nearby restaurants—lobster, shrimp, calamari and the freshest of fish. An Italian presence has been on the island for many years resulting in excellent European cuisine that provides the island’s continental flair alongside the classic Mexican food.
Continental breakfast at the lodge is the start of each day and lunch is served on the boats on fishing days. The ‘Happy Hour’ includes signature hors d’oeuvres. All other meals are on your own in the local restaurants, just a five-minute walk from the lodge.
Non-fishing partners mix horseback riding on the beach, swimming the cenote caves, kayaking, windsurfing, birding and island exploration with hours of relaxation on the empty white sand beaches of this undiscovered island. You can also include a trip to Chichen Itza, the most famous of Mayan Ruins, or snorkel with the Whale Sharks.
WIFI is available at Isla Holbox Lodge.
From April through September during the Mexican Summer months, migratory Tarpon work their way from the Caribbean Sea to the clear, sheltered Gulf of Mexico at the northern end of the Yucatan Peninsula. Along with big aggregations of krill, and baitfish in the region at this time of the year, Tarpon from 70-100lbs can be targeted in open water with fish over 200lbs’ landed on Fly.
In contrast, the inshore mangroves are packed with juvenile Tarpon up to about fifteen pounds in weight which are there all year round. There are also Snook, Snapper, Barracuda, and the odd Bonefish and Permit can make an occasional appearance.
It is the migratory Tarpon however which make Holbox a special fly fishing location. As the water and weather warm up in June, July and August the fishing for large Tarpon really gets underway.
A typical day starts with breakfast around 7:00 am and when you are ready to leave the lodge with your guides—all of whom speak some English—and gear for an 8:00 am start from the beachside dock.
Fishing grounds can be anything from a twenty-minute to a fifty-minute run on traditional Panga boats which will get you safely to the fish each day. Casting large flies to Tarpon all day can be challenging in the best of conditions, and the beauty of the location is that you can mix it up also to target juvenile tarpon and snook in the mangroves.
Six nights/ five-day fly fishing packages are available.
As per all Fly Odyssey bookings, you will be provided with a comprehensive and detailed pre-trip fly fishing guide, prior to your departure.
The lodge is easily accessible via Cancun, which is a major hub for US and European flights daily and has a great range of resort and hotel accommodation available to bookend your fly fishing time in Mexico.
The transfer from Cancun to Isla Holbox is by road and boat and takes approximately three hours.
Passport with minimum of 6 months validity.
Let us do the groundwork for you.
Our tailored fly fishing and accommodation itineraries are designed with you in mind to suit your preferences. They are also quoted in your local currency with very favourable exchange rates.
Fly Odyssey has access to the best guiding and lodging rates, suitable tides and updated availability to this destination which can vary throughout the season.
This includes flight bookings, transit accommodation, transfers and a host of non-angling activities and experiences.
We specialise in family, couples and group stays to the region, and our long involvement with our partners on the ground in Mexico will ensure you are well looked after both on and off the water.
This includes extended coastal stays in Cancun and Ascension Bay, the Baja Peninsula or further south in Belize.
Please enquire for the latest rates and availability, including information on any applicable special offers.
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Creating and sharing memorable travel experiences with our clients and friends provides us with genuine satisfaction. All of our trips are bespoke, tailored to your needs, and we always love hearing all about the adventure on your return.
Our knowledge of travel logistics saves you time, and our highly experienced team is here to ensure it’s spent on the water and not at the desk or on a long flight connection that you didn’t require. Since 2006 we have developed a valued client-base that has travelled to all corners of the globe.
We are a fully-accredited travel agency, where all of our flights, accommodation and associated travel bookings are made in-house, which means that you pay less. We have access to a huge range of specials, deals, great volume pricing and excellent currency exchange rates which allows us to pass these benefits directly onto you.
On the fishing front, our extensive expertise and experience around prime seasons, species, moon-phases, tides and personalised customer service is centred around one principal – preparation. This includes detailed gear and equipment lists, the fly patterns, transfer details, up-to-date fishing reports and some of the finer aspects that can often be overlooked.
We travel extensively and understand that your free-time is important. Just as we all understand from experience, that the key to a successful trip is pre-trip preparation.
Our highly experienced team has fly fished the world for the last 25 years, and we understand the considerations and gear needed to turn a good fly fishing trip into a great one.
Fly fishing and travel is our passion. It’s all we do.
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